Finding aid for the James Keeney photograph album Collection 250 Finding aid prepared by R. Mayne This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit May 07, 2013 Describing Archives: A Content Standard Grand Rapids Public Library, Grand Rapids History and Special Collections Department 111 Library Street NE Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503 616-988-5400 localhis@grpl.org
Table of Contents Summary Information... 3 Biographical/Historical note... 4 Administrative Information...4 Related Materials... 4 Controlled Access Headings...5 Collection Inventory... 6 Original Album... 6 Contact prints of original images...7 Reference Materials... 7 - Page 2 -
Summary Information Repository Grand Rapids Public Library, Grand Rapids History and Special Collections Department Creator - Photographer Keeney, James, b. 1836 Title James Keeney photograph album Date [inclusive] circa 1857-1858 Extent 0.21 Linear feet One box Language English Abstract James Keeney (b. 1836) was a photographer in Grand Rapids, Michigan in the 1850s. This collection contains a photograph album of prominent citizens of Grand Rapids. The prints are said to be among the first in Grand Rapids to be printed on paper, in place of daguerreotypes on copper or ambrotype on glass. - Page 3 -
Biographical/Historical note In 1856 James Milton Keeney came to Grand Rapids, Michigan from Rochester, New York. In Grand Rapids he purchased the photo gallery of O.W. (Orsamus W.) Horton and continued the business for three years. During 1856 or 1857 knowledge of the new process of making prints on paper became known, in place of the daguerreotypes on copper or ambrotype on glass. The prints in this album of prominent citizens of that time are said to be among the first made in Grand Rapids with the new photographic process. An image of the photographer Horton is among those included in this small collection, as well as photographer Keeney, himself. Keeney was born in 1836, and left Grand Rapids in 1858. He is said to have died of an accidental shooting somewhere in the South, previous to the Civil War. See research material on Keeney, gathered by researcher Diana Barrett and included in this collection. James Milton Keeney is believed not to be the same as James H. Keeney, documented in Coll. 242, the GRPL Civil War Documents Collection, though they appear to have been from the same generation. Administrative Information Publication Information Grand Rapids Public Library, Grand Rapids History and Special Collections Department Immediate Source of Acquisition note George E. Fitch, accession number 1986.084 (old accession number 225011). Existence and Location of Copies note Note: The negative numbers are for copy negatives housed with the other departmental copy negatives. Related Materials Related Archival Materials note - Page 4 -
The Keeney Family from Coast to Coast : an informal history of the ancestors and descendants of George Keeney of Newport, Rhode Island / compiled by Karyl Keeney Hubbard and Sandra Keeney Pattok. Baltimore, Md. : Gateway Press, Inc., 2008. Located in the Grand Rapids History and Special Collections department book collection. The book uses some images from this collection, and provides some additional information about the photographer and his family. Controlled Access Headings Genre(s) photographs Geographic Name(s) Grand Rapids (Mich.) -- History Subject(s) Portrait photography -- Michigan -- Grand Rapids - Page 5 -
Original Album Collection Inventory Series I Original Album ca. 1857/1858 Box.1 Col. Babcock. Neg. #3960 [Believed to be Charles P. Babcock].2 Col. Babcock, unlabeled dup. in the album..3 Lovell Moore. Neg. #1204.4 Chas. Moore, artist. Neg. #2495. (Painted our Campau picture.).5 Tirze Moore Hall and Mr. Hall. Neg. #2642..6 O.W. Horton, Neg. #2496.7 Unidentified male, profile, Neg. #3961.8 Leonard Slater, Neg. #2672.9 Rev. Vander Meulen. #3962.10 Aaron B. Turner, #3963.11 Julia and Elizabeth Moore, #3964 - Page 6 -
Contact prints of original images.12 W.H. Barnhart, Music and band, #3965.13 Herman Strassberg, Dancing Master, Collins Hall, #3966.14 Charles Bolza, Leut. In Civil War, killed July 14, 1863. He had a jewelry store around location of later Boston Store, #3967.15 Copy photo of portrait. Mother of Geo. C. Fitch, #3968.16 Duplicate of unidentified male, profile (.7).17 Elisha J. Keeney, #3969.18 Unidentified young male, #3970.19 Unidentified older male, possibly Foley. Mounted on board. #3971.20 James Keeney, photographer, seated, checkered vest, #946. Series II Contact prints of original images Box Folder 4x5 prints (20-2 (dup. images not included)=18 contact prints) 1 Series III Reference Materials Box Folder - Page 7 -
Reference Materials Grand River Valley Review, v. VI, No. II, 1986. Includes the article "Images from Life" by Gordon Olson, about the Keeney album. 1986.084 2 Research by Diana Barrett, 2006. 3 Biography. 3 Transcription of Last Will and Testament of George Kenney. 3 Transcription of Last Will and Testament of Elisha Keeney. 3 - Page 8 -